Odds Bet FAQ
The only bet in the casino with zero house edge.
What is the odds bet in craps?
The odds bet (also called free odds) is an additional wager placed behind your Pass Line, Don't Pass, Come, or Don't Come bet after a point is established. It pays at true mathematical odds with no house edge whatsoever.
Why does the odds bet have a 0% house edge?
The odds bet pays at true odds: 2:1 on 4/10, 3:2 on 5/9, and 6:5 on 6/8. The payout exactly matches the probability of winning, so the casino makes nothing on this bet. They offer it to keep players at the table betting on the flat bets where the house does have an edge.
What does 3-4-5x odds mean?
3-4-5x odds means you can bet 3 times your flat bet on points of 4 or 10, 4 times on 5 or 9, and 5 times on 6 or 8. This structure is designed so the maximum odds payout is always 6 times the flat bet, regardless of the point number.
How much do odds reduce the effective house edge?
With 1x odds on a Pass Line bet, the combined edge drops from 1.41% to 0.85%. At 2x, it falls to 0.61%. At 3-4-5x, it reaches 0.37%. At 10x, it drops to 0.18%. At 100x (rare), the combined edge is just 0.02%.
Should I always take maximum odds?
From a pure expected-value perspective, yes. Every dollar on the odds bet has zero expected cost, while every dollar on the flat bet costs you 1.41%. However, maximum odds increase variance significantly. Your bankroll needs to support the swings.
Can I take odds on a Come bet?
Yes. Once your Come bet moves to a point number, tell the dealer you want odds. The same true-odds payouts apply: 2:1 on 4/10, 3:2 on 5/9, 6:5 on 6/8. The house edge on the odds portion is still zero.
What is the difference between taking odds and laying odds?
Taking odds is for Pass Line and Come bets. You bet less to win more. Laying odds is for Don't Pass and Don't Come bets. You bet more to win less. Both pay at true odds with zero house edge. The direction of the payout ratio is the only difference.
Why do casinos limit odds bets?
Casinos limit odds because they make zero profit on them. If odds were unlimited, well-funded players could overwhelm the flat bet with odds money and reduce the effective house edge to nearly nothing. The limit keeps the flat bet a meaningful portion of total action.
Do odds bets work during the come-out roll?
Odds on Come bets are typically "off" during the come-out roll unless you tell the dealer to keep them working. Odds on the Pass Line are always working since the Pass Line itself is always live after a point is set.
Is 10x odds significantly better than 3-4-5x?
The combined house edge at 10x odds is 0.18% vs. 0.37% at 3-4-5x. That difference is real but modest. What changes more is your variance and required bankroll. At 10x odds on a $10 Pass Line, a single bet cycle can risk $110. The edge improvement costs you in bankroll exposure.
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